May 3, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
Although the Illinois State women's golf team fell two strokes shy of an NCAA tournament bid at the 2006 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Redbird senior golfer Samantha Richdale has been one of three individuals selected from the Central region to participate in the 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championships Regionals.
Hosted by Texas A&M University, the Central Regional will be played May 11-13 at The Traditions Golf Course in Bryan, Texas. The last time Richdale made an appearance at this particular golf course was in 2005 for the "Mo" Morial Invite, where she took first place with a three-round score of 230 (75,73,82).
Head coach Ray Kralis has believes in Richdale's ability to succeed.
"Her background and experience throughout the years makes her a top contender," said Kralis. "The confidence Sam has gained allows her to be more comfortable at regionals. She is in the ideal situation for success because she has a precedence of winning on this course."
A total of 324 participants have been selected for the regional competition, which include the Central, West and East regions. Of these players, 126 will advance to the championships finals. Eight teams and two individuals will advance from each region. Richdale heads into competition alongside Michigan's Amy Schmucker and Kansas' Amanda Costner, the two other individuals selected from the Central region. There are 21teams and three individuals to total 129 participants in the Central Region.
Kralis sees this tournament as a springboard into Richdale's future in golf.
"This is just a stepping stone for Sam," said Kralis. "There are two individuals that will move on that are not part of an advancing team, which will cause the field to shrink a little more, and I think that Sam has a great chance of moving on to the finals and later competing for the national title."
Richdale has been in attendance at the NCAA Regionals three times in four years. Her first appearance came as a sophomore in 2004 when she finished in sixth place at the NCAA Central Regional tournament and proceeded to finish 57th out of 126 golfers at the NCAA finals. In 2005, Richdale proceeded with her team and finished tied for 62nd place out of 102 golfers at the NCAA West Regional.
"This is a great way to finish off her senior campaign and tremendous career at Illinois State," said Kralis.
